Refrigerating apparatus



June 5, 1928.

J. R. REPLOGLE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Filed July 30, 1926 June 5, 1928.

J. R. REPLOG LE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I .\'V EN TOR. 16W B Y Filed July 30, 1926 r V ATTORNEY.

Q Q 0 2 t R w a Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN B. REPLOGLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION CORPORATION,

TION OF MICHIGAN.

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

OF. DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed m 30;

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and especially to Vaporizers.

An object of this invention is to provide a compact vaporizer structure which is designed to etficiently maintain a low temperature in a chamber of a relatively large area.

A further object of my invention residesin a vaporizer structure wherein extension pipes are associated with a brine container surrounding a refrigerant expansion casing to cause a thermosiphon circulation of brine in the chamber to be cooled at a considerable distance from the expansion casing. Another object of the invention is to provide a vaporizer wherein the brine extends internally and externally of the expanding refrigerant to maintain a low temperature for relatively long periods within a chamber to be cooled, and likewise longer evaporating periods, thereby reducing the frequency of the operating periods of the associated refrigerating apparatus.

These and other objects and the invention itself will be described and set forth in detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vaporizer incorporating my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one end of the vaporizer; Fig. 3 is an end view of the vaporizer; Fig. 4 is a vertlcal medial sectional view of the vaporizer; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the ,vaporizer taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the vaporizer taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the evaporator illustrated forms the cooling ele ment of a refrigerating system which may be of various types. However, I prefer to associate the evaporator with refrigerating apparatus of the type illustrated in my pending application, Serial N 0. 475,334, filed June 6, 1921.

The evaporator is designed particularly for cooling a chamber of considerable lengt and is preferably of the flooded type. A cuprous sheet metal shell 10 provides a portion of the refrigerant expansion casing, and plates 11 and 12 ar provided at each end thereof and are formed with a. peripheral groove 13, within which the ends 14 of the 1926. Serial N0. 125,883.

casing are pressed. The space in the grooves 13, exterior of the ends of the shell, are filled with solder 15 to provide a leak proof connection. The plate 11 is provided with a central opening and a plate 16 is secured against the exterior wall of the end plate 11 by studs 17, the plate 16 being of a diameter so that it will close the opening in the end plate 11. The refrigerant inlet conduit is connected with a coupling member 18 having a threaded portion which screws into an opening in the plate 16 which terminates in an outlet port 19 interiorly of the shell. The plate 16 is formed with an inwardly projecting boss 20, through which the port 19 extends. A coupling 21 is bolted to the plate 16 in a plane above the couplin 18 and is provided with a port with whic the refrigerant outlet conduit is connected, such port aligning with a port 22 through the plat 16. A pipe 23 is fitted into the inner end of the port 22 and is curved upwardly so that its open upper end will extend in a plane above the level of the liquid refrigerant and lubricant which are maintained at substantially a constant level within the easing 10. A coupling 24 extends vertically from the coupling 21 and isarranged to be connected with a conduit for controlling the operation of the power mechanism for driving the compressor of the refrigerating apparatus. A tube 25 extends through the pipe 23, the port 22, and the coupling member 21 and is connected with a port in the coupling member 24. so that the pressure within the casing 10 will be transmitted directly into the conduit leading from the coupling 24 to the control mechanism.

A float is pivotally connected to an arm 27, which in turn is pivotally connected for limited movement to the inwardly projecting portion 20 of the plate 16. The arm 27 has a leaf spring associated with it, which extends beneath a ball 29 which engages the end of the port 19 to close and open the port. A refrigerant is preferably used which is of greater specific gravity than the lubricant used in the refrigerating circuit, so that a layer of the lubricant will float upon the top of the liquid refrigerant within the casing 10. The pipe 23 is provided, adjacent its end, with apertures 30 through which lubricant escapes into the pipe 23, and then passes through the coupling 21 and the associated conduit back to the compressor. The gasified refrigerant passes from the casing 10 through the open end of the pipe 23, which extends above the level of the lubricant, and returns to the compressor through the coupling 21 and the associated conduit. The float 26 is positioned and arranged so that it will raise the ball 29 from its seat at the outlet end of the refrigerant port 19 when the liquid level within the casing 10 lowers, due to evaporation of the refrigerant. Thus, as the refrigerant evaporates, the float lowers and the port 19 is-opened to admit liquid"refrigerant and lubricant from the condenser, whereby substantially a constant level of liquid is maintained with the evaporator.

The other section of the evaporatorconsists of a plurality of casings or shells which are associated so that brine, or a similar low temperature medium, will extend within and exterior of the refrigerant containing casing of the extended section, such sections being assembled as a unit and removably secured with the section heretofore described to provide a complete evaporator. The extended section of the evaporator may be formed of desired length to suit chambers of various "proportions, and is preferably of the same diameter as the section to which it is attached. With this form of construction, a standard evaporator section,'such as that heretofore described, can be utilized with various lengths and types of detachable sections to provide an evaporator suitable for various chambers, thus facilitating production and providing an economical installation for various purposes.

An annular cuprous shell 32, preferably of the same diameter as the shell 10, is secured at one end to a collar or coupling member 33, preferably cast in annular form and U-shapedin cross section. One shoulder of such coupling member is provided with a peripheral groove 34, into which one end of the shell 32 is pressed and secured in leak proof relation by solder 35. A cuprous shell 36 extends lengthwise axially within the shell 32 and in spaced relation with the inner wall thereof. The coupling member 33 is provided with a central aperture within which the end of the shell 36 extends and is secured by crimpin it-outwardly, as at 37, at opposite on s of the aperture in the coupling member. A cuprous annular shell 38 extends longitudinally within the shell 36 and is spacedfrom the inner wall thereof the major portion of its length. The shell 38 at its inner end is provided with a closure plate 39, and the end of the shell 38 is crimped over the edge of the closure plate and sealed therewith in leak proof relation. The shell 36 intermediate the crimped portion 37 is provided with a plurality of spaced annularly arranged bosses 40, which project inwardly and bear against the exterior wall of the shell 38, such bosses providing spacers for the inner ends of the shells 36 and 38. The shell 38 is braced internally along its length by annular members 41, and its outer end is flared slightly outwardly and secured in leak proof relation with the outer end of the shell 36 by, sweating, or in some similar manner.

The annular space intermediate the shells 36 i and 38 provides a continuation or extension of the refrigerant casing 10 for containing the liquid refrigerant and lubricant in substantially a thin semi-annular sheet, as the space intermediate the shells 36 and 38 is in open communication with the interior of the shell 10, the end plate 12 being provided with an annular aperture, to which a shoulder of the coupling member is removably secured by studs 42.

A ring casting 43 having open ends provides a support, to which the outer end of the shell 32 is secured, the casting 43 being provided with a groove 44, within which the end of the shell 32 is pressed and secured in leak proof relation by solder 45. The casting 43 projects inwardly as a plurality of prongs which extend beyond the outer end of the shells 36 and 38, preferably, telescoping the end portions in annular spaced relatioii. The outer open end of the casting 43 is closed by an end plate 46, which is secured therewith by studs 47. The end plate is provided with a port, closed by a plug 48, which is removable so that brine or similar low temperature medium can be inserted within the shells 32 and 38. The end plate 46 is provided with a central aperture 49, into which the open end of a. tube 50 is pressed, this tube being closed at its other end and extending within the shell 38, so that a thermometer can be inserted interiorly of the evaporator for a reading of the in ternal chamber.

A plurality of tubes 51 are associated in spaced relation with each other and are connected with the casing or shell 32, so that their free ends are in open communication with the interior of the shell. Suitable coupling members 52 and 53 are secured by rivets 54 to the outer wall of the casing 32 and the tubes 51 are secured to such couplings. An opening is provided in the wall of the shell 32, which registers with the port in the coupling, so that the ends of the tubes 51 will be in open communication with the interior of the shell 32. The tubes 51 preferably extend downwardly at each end from the couplings 52 and are bent to extend in a horizontal plane below the shell 32 and considerable distance horizontally therefrom. The brine or low temperature medium within the shell 32 will flow freely through the tubes 51 and will circulate due to thermosiphon action, the brine in such circulation passing through the couplings 53 and upwardly through the tubes 51 and through the couplings 52 back into the shell 32. Theseextension tubes provide a cooling extension for the vaporizer, so that the cooling effect can be extended horizontally considerable distance from the vaporizer cas ings and thereby more readily cool that part of the chamber removed from the vaporizer proper.

The brine or low cooling medium is free to circulate within the casing 38 and the easing 32, and I preferably form these casings annularly to aid in the convection of the brine, so that a maximum circulation will,

take place and thereby more readily absorb the heat from the surrounding chamber and at the same time more readily transfer this heat to the refrigerant which lies intermediate the shells 36 and 38. Thus, it will be seen that the brine circulates exteriorly and interiorly of the refrigerant and is also free to circulatebetween the casings 38 and 32, because they are arranged in open communication at their outer ends.

The tubes 51 can be made in various forms to meet the requirements of the shape of the chamber in which the evaporator is to be installed.

It will be seen that the casings 32, 36 and 38 are secured with the coupling ring 33 and form a unit therewith which can be readily assembled with the end plate 12 of the standard evaporator section, and that the removable evaporator sections consisting of a plurality of casings can be made of various lengths and readily assembled with the evaporator sections to suit installations in cham bers of varying lengths. The provision of brine circulation interiorly and exteriorly and in a plane removed from the evaporator proper will maintain a low temperature a substantially long period of time, at least a longer period of time than would be sustained with an evaporator without such brine arrangement, and therefore the length of the periods between the operations of the compressor will be materially lengthened, so that when the evaporator is used in connect on with a chamber which is constantly being opened, the intervals between the operating periods of the compressor will be considerably lengthened and likewise the operating periods of the compressor will also be somewhat lengthened. A

Various changes may be made in the details of construction described, without departing from the spirit of my 1nvent1on and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising a sectional vaporizer for containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant, one of said sections having inlet and outletports connected in the refrigerant circuit of the system, refrigerant displacing means extending into one of said vaporizer sections. a casing surrounding and secured with the vaporizer section having the displacing means therein to confine a heat transfer medium exterior of said section, and means for securing said vaporizer sections together.

2. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising a sectional vaporizer for containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant, one of said sections having inlet and outlet ports connected in the refrigerant circuit of the system, refrigerant displacing means extending into one of said vaporizer sections, a casing surrounding and secured with the vaporizer section having the displacing means therein to confine a heat transfer medium exterior of said section, and means for detachably securing said vaporizer sections together.

3. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising a sectional vaporizer having inlet and outlet ports connecting one section in the refrigerant circuit of the system, means in one of saidvaporizer sections associated withthe inlet port to maintain a constant quantity of liquid refrigerant in the vaporizer, an open sleeve extending into another section of the vaporizer and closed to the refrigerant therein, a casing surround ing and secured to the vaporizer section containing said sleeve, said casing and sleeve defining an open chamber for containing brine, and means for securing said vaporizer sections together.

t. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising an elongated tubular receptacle in which a quantity of liquid refrigerant is maintained, said receptacle having inlet and outlet ports in one end connected in the refrigerant circuit of the system, and tubular casings telescoping a portion of said refrigerant receptacle, said receptacle and casings being formed and related to define a leak proof chamber extending interiorly and exteriorly of the recepta-cle to confine a heat transfer medium separate from the refrigerant.

5. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising a receptacle in which a quantity of liquid refrigerant is maintained, said receptacle having inlet and outlet ports in one end connected in the refrigerant circuit of the system, and casings telescoping a portion of said refrigerant receptacle, said receptacle and casings being formed and related to define a leak proof chamber extending interiorly and exteriorly of the receptacle to confine a heat transfer medium separate fromthe refrigerant.

6. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising an elongated tubular receptacle in which a quantity of' liquid refrigerant is maintained, said receptacle having inlet and outlet ports in one end connected in the refrigerant circuit of the sys- 1 tem, and casings associated with said refrigerant receptacle, said receptacle and casings being-formed and related to define a leak proof chamber extending interiorly and exteriorly of the receptacle to confine a heat transfer medium separate from the refrigerant.

7. In an artificial refrigerating system, a cooling unit comprising a receptacle for containing a uantity of liquid refrigerant, said receptacle aving inlet and outlet ports connected in the refrigerant circuit of the system, tubular casings telescoping a portion of said receptacle, said receptacle and casings being formed and related to define a leak proof chamber extending internally and externally of the receptacle to confine a heat transfer medium separate from the refrigerant, and pipe loops extending from the exterior casing and in open communication at their ends with the chamber. A

8. In an artificial refrigerating system, a

cooling unit comprising a vaporizer formed in sections for containing a quantity of liquid refrigerant, oneof said sections having inlet and outlet ports connected in the refrigerantcircuit of the system, brine confining means extending internall of one of said vaporizer sections,brine con ning means extending externally of the section having the internal brine confining means therein, said brine confining means forming a chamber, and a plurality of spaced pipe loops extending from said external brine confining 'JOHN R. REPLOGLE. 

